§ 63. Mr. Swinglerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Committee of Public Accounts on the extent to which grants to the Arts Council are spent in London; and if he will consult with the Arts Council to ensure that greater and proper proportions of these grants are spent in the provinces.
§ Mr. H. BrookeMy right hon. Friend has read these comments, but he would not wish to interfere with the discretion of the Arts Council in apportioning its resources. I understand that the Council is this year spending outside London a much larger percentage of its expenditure on opera and ballet than in 1952–53.